This is posted on the Vipers website:
Official Statement From Ownership
March 13, 2020
A statement from Vernon Vipers owner John Glen.
“This is without question an unprecedented circumstance that has caused the remainder of the playoffs to be cancelled. We respect the enormity of this difficult but necessary decision. The players, staff, volunteers and billet families are extremely saddened with the season concluding unexpectedly.”
“We feel compassion for all of our league partners and the many others affected by the decision. “
“On behalf of the entire organization, I would like to thank all of the players, staff volunteers and most importantly the fans. It has been a year of determination and hard work that saw this group post a 30 win season.”
“We owe a ton of gratitude to our supporters and community partners, without whom none of this could have happened. With the off season being longer than anticipated, we turn our attention and focus to next season working hard to make 2020-2021 another success.
“We wish the players that will not return a bright future remembering that “once a Viper, always a Viper”
It was a sad day the other day when the BCHL cancelled the remainder of the season. I was looking forward to the second round of the playoffs. With the Vipers season coming to an end, and a later start to the 2020-21 season, it's going to be a long off season/summer for Viper fans. I sure hope the Vipers have done there homework and recruited well this year after a disappointing 2019-20 Vipers season. I wasn't pleased with this years Vipers. And I'm not alone, just look at the comments posted on my blog this season. The team was inconsistent all season and never improved. Ok they may have played a little better and did well in the first round of the playoffs, knocking out the Wenatchee Wild in five games, but overall the team struggled and was very inconsistent all season. The team still couldn't make a pass at the end of the regular season, struggled defensively in there own end, were still making the same mistakes and turnovers in there own end, that they were making at the start of the season. The Vipers struggled offensively all year and had some players out with long term injuries. When I look at the team at the start of the season and watch it through out the season, when the team doesn't improve, get better or is still making the same mistakes from the start of the season, I blame that all on the coaching staff. I didn't see a lot of coaching going on behind the benches during games, I didn't see the coaching staff argue with an official after a non called goal or a missed penalty. Other then a few times, all three coaches stood behind the bench like statues. I will give them credit for playing a little better in the playoffs and getting into the second round. The team wasn't very exciting this year or fun to watch on most nights. If it wasn't for Matt Kowalski or Reilly Herbst, where would this team have been? I kept seeing a team struggling game after game to make a pass, get out of there own end without turning over the puck and score goals. I sure hope the Vipers and there scouting staff bring in some high end recruits like we see Penticton bring in year after year. The Vipers recruiting has gone down ever since Larry Black left the team. The Vipers haven't seem to be able to bring in the elite talent other teams in the league are attracting. I don't expect a winning team year after year but I want to see a competitive team that plays an exciting brand of hockey. If the team works hard, plays hard and loses a hard fought game 3-2 I'm fine with that. But it was the way the team was losing this year that bothered me. Blowing leads, the inconsistent play, mistakes and turnovers game after game after game. The kids played and worked hard almost every game but the team didn't improve. It was like something was lacking. It will be interesting to see who returns for next season and who they bring in for new commitments for next year.
ReplyDeleteWell said, couldn't agree more with your comments, especially about the coaching staff! If they want a better team and one who progresses throughout the year the present coaches must go! Management learned this year you can't hire coaches based on friendship!
ReplyDeleteI will agree 100 per cent on the inconsistency,throughout the year,however I will disagree on the team not improving. The Vipers were playing by far their best hockey of the year against Wenatchee during playoffs. Did anyone really think the Vipers would win in 5 ? This years season was very similar to last years, where the Vipers were middle of the road team,raised their game during playoffs. VDHF, you referenced Herbst/Kowalski, I think you may have forgotten about Holt......I thought he was the difference most nights during the regular season and best player on the ice (for both teams) during playoffs. It will be a long spring/summer for sure !
ReplyDeleteYes, your right I did forget to mention Dawson Holt. I don't know how I forgot him, as I really liked him and thought he was also one of if not the best Viper forward. I did mention the team improved a little towards the end of the season and in the playoffs, as they knocked off Wenatchee in the first round. I didn't expect the series to end in five games and the way they ended the regular season, I wasn't sure if they would get past Wenatchee. In the playoffs the team did however still made a ton of mistakes and were turning over the puck and had troubles coming out of there own end. The only difference in the playoffs, was the team was scoring and capitalizing on there chances. Yes they beat Wenatchee and in five games but it's not like they upset Penticton or Trail, they beat a Wenatchee team who finished one point ahead in the regular season and a Wenatchee team they went 4-2 against in the regular season. I look back at Troy Mick, Mike Vandekamp and Mark Ferner's teams. They all improved as the season went on and not only did the team improve as the season went on, certain players who didn't look very good at the start of the season, also improved as the season went on. This years Vipers couldn't make a pass all season and there were a few players who were still making the same mistakes in the playoffs they were making at the start of the season. I have to question the coaching staff on why they decided to keep a kid like Hunter Honohoe? Here's a kid who turned the puck over, several times a game and continued too in the playoffs. Why wasn't he set aside in practise and worked with to try and improve his mistakes or released/traded before the BCHL trade deadline? If it wasn't for West Kelowna & Merritt having disaster seasons, the Vipers could have easily finished 6th or 7th. All I'm saying is I expect the Vipers to do a better job at recruiting next season and put together a more competitive team. Jason McKee and the coaching staff still have to prove to me they are BCHL coaches and can compete with the other top teams in the league next year.
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